Ten Takeaways from Project Package (ProPack) Training

Representing Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Nepal, I had the privilege of attending the Asia Region Project Package (ProPack) Training with a focus on Systems Thinking. Held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from September 9 to 13, 2024, the training included 23 participants (representing program, MEAL and business development portfolio) from countries in Asia, where CRS has its program operations. The intensive five-day course covered wide range of topics, following a systems thinking lens.

Here are my 10 key takeaway messages from the training:

1. Apply Systems Principles in project design as you seize opportunities for incremental progress toward systems change and scale; support local systems actors to lead; strengthen relationships to build a shared vision for change; understand local systems, identify trends across contexts; leverage existing momentum and resources; prioritize inclusion and equitable voice; and adapt systems approaches based on changing context.
2. Consider Key Areas of Prepositioning before actually prepositioning for a particular opportunity. Know Yourself, your Donor, your Potential Competitors and Collaborators; and the External Environment.
3. Start Early in Prepositioning to be ahead of your competitors. Active prepositioning actions puts the organization at the center stage. So, be intentional and iterative by documenting your Knowns, Assumptions, and Unknowns while prepositioning.
4. Identify likely purpose/strategic objectives early at the capture planning stage by reviewing the strategy documents, evidence collated and triangulated from various sources.
5. Use Purpose statements to inform Pre-positioning activities (such as consortium selection, communication and reputation building, information gathering (primary and secondary data), proposal team capabilities, stakeholder relationship building).
6. Apply Six Conditions for Systems Change (Policies, Practices, Resource Flows, Relationships and Connections, Power Dynamics and Mental Models) to frame your project design better.
7. Apply GESI lens (such as Protection Risk Analysis Guidance, Safeguarding Risk Assessment, Do No Harm Framework, Conflict Analysis) as part of the Six Conditions for Systems Change Framework and overall project design. It could be a cross-cutting or standalone component depending upon the nature of the project.
8. Layer conceptual frameworks (such as Basic Guide for Social Power Dynamics Assessment and Six Conditions for Systems Change) for developing assessment questions.
9. Develop an Evidence Table to inform your design and validate your assessment findings with key stakeholders.
10. Use Fit Analysis and Risk Review tools as a key quality consideration in project design to ensure the partnerships and collaboration we are seeking align with our values, priorities and working modalities.

These takeaway messages would only be fruitful if they are implemented. So, bringing these principles into use as a collective unit, would help in improving program design quality and fundraising practices in any organizational set up.?